David Charles Abell (born 1958) is an American orchestral conductor and multi-instrumentalist. Described as “a protean talent” with “impeccable and inspired” skill as a conductor, he is active in symphonic music, opera and musical theatre.[1] Abell was one of Leonard Bernstein's last protégés, and collaborated with Bernstein on many works during the 1980s.[2]
David Charles Abell
David Charles Abell conducting at Glimmerglass Opera, 2008
Abell is known for his television appearances worldwide as conductor of the Les Misérables' 10th[3] and 25th[4] Anniversary concerts. He is also recognized as an authoritative interpreter of the musicals of Stephen Sondheim.[5][6]
In addition to maintaining an active international opera career, Abell has worked to restore clarity to musical scores with poorly preserved source materials.[2] As of 2017, Abell is a resident of London.[7]
One of Leonard Bernstein's last protégés, he assisted the composer-conductor on many projects during the 1980s and helped prepare definitive editions of Bernstein's musical theatre scores.[2]
The driving force behind Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday celebration at the 2010 BBC Proms,[8] Abell subsequently conducted the 25th anniversary concert of Les Misérables at the O2 Arena, which has been seen worldwide on television and released on DVD. Both the 25th and 10th Anniversary concerts have been extensively broadcast by PBS to boost fund-raising efforts.[10]
A regular guest conductor with the Philly Pops since his debut in 2013, Abell released a Christmas CD with them in 2015[17] and was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the organization in 2017.[18] He was named Music Director and Principal Conductor in February, 2020.[19] He made his Boston Pops debut in 2016 with an all-Gershwin concert.
Music scholarship
Abell has helped restore clarity to musical theatre scores affected by accretions of revival productions and poorly preserved source materials, notably West Side Story.[2] Along with pianist and musicologist Seann Alderking, he edited a complete edition of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate, published in 2014.[20] It is one of the first American musicals to be published in a critical edition.[8]
^Blog, WDAV. "Classically Trained: David Charles Abell | WDAV: Of Note". Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ abcdeFord, Piers. "Interview with David Charles Abell, Conductor of the 2010 Sondheim Prom", The Art of the Torch Singer, January 6, 2011. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
^E[dwards], A[drian]. "Schönberg Les Misérables", Gramophone magazine, August, 1996. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
^. Archived from the original on 2010-09-07. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
^Nice, David. "Stephen Sondheim At 80, Royal Albert Hall", The Arts Desk, August 1, 2010. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
^Millington, Barry. "Masters and servants at the Proms", The Evening Standard, August 2, 2010. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
^"Meet Conductor David Charles Abell - Meet Conductor David Charles Abell". Opera Philadelphia. Retrieved 2022-06-02.
^ abc"Conductor David Charles Abell Prepares For A Season of Sondheim", Broadwayworld.com, June 11, 2010. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
^Billington, Michael. "The Water Diviner's Tale", The Guardian, August 28, 2007. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
^Jensen, Elizabeth. "In Tight Times, PBS Leans on Pledge Drives", The New York Times, March 13, 2010. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
^Benedict, David. "Love Never Dies", Variety, March 10, 2010. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
^Seckerson, Edward. "Love Never Dies...twice 2012-06-14 at the Wayback Machine", The Independent, January 16, 2011. Retrieved on October 20, 2011.
^Loomis, George. "Châtelet's 'Sweeney Todd' Stays True to Detailed Musical Roots", The New York Times, May 3, 2011. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
^"David Charles Abell: ‘The Châtelet production of SWEENEY TODD is allowing me to fulfil a long-held dream", Todomusicales, April 1, 2011. Retrieved on October 19, 2011.
^Benzel, Jan. "Supersizing a 'Sunday in the Park'" The New York Times, April 18, 2013. Retrieved on April 30, 2013.
^Gioia, Michael and Ly-Cuong, Stéphane. "The Screening Room: Highlights from Théâtre du Châtelet's Into the Woods in Paris (Video)" Playbill, April 15, 2014. Retrieved on May 10, 2014.
^"Philly POPS Releases New Christmas Album", The Philly Pops, December 15, 2015. Retrieved on February 23, 2020.
^"David Charles Abell named Principal Guest Conductor of the Philly POPS", The Philly Pops, September 21, 2017. Retrieved on February 23, 2020.
^"David Charles Abell replaces Todd Ellison", Philadelphia Inquirer, February 12, 2020. Retrieved on February 23, 2020.
^"Kiss Me, Kate Critical Edition Now Available". Tams Witmark Music Library. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
External links
Official website
North American Management (Pinnacle Arts Management)
March 05, 2023
david, charles, abell, born, 1958, american, orchestral, conductor, multi, instrumentalist, described, protean, talent, with, impeccable, inspired, skill, conductor, active, symphonic, music, opera, musical, theatre, abell, leonard, bernstein, last, protégés, . David Charles Abell born 1958 is an American orchestral conductor and multi instrumentalist Described as a protean talent with impeccable and inspired skill as a conductor he is active in symphonic music opera and musical theatre 1 Abell was one of Leonard Bernstein s last proteges and collaborated with Bernstein on many works during the 1980s 2 David Charles AbellDavid Charles Abell conducting at Glimmerglass Opera 2008Background informationBirth nameDavid Charles AbellBorn1958 age 64 65 Jacksonville North Carolina U S GenresSymphonic music opera musical theatreOccupation s Conductor musicologistYears active1982 presentWebsitewww wbr davidcharlesabell wbr com Abell is known for his television appearances worldwide as conductor of the Les Miserables 10th 3 and 25th 4 Anniversary concerts He is also recognized as an authoritative interpreter of the musicals of Stephen Sondheim 5 6 In addition to maintaining an active international opera career Abell has worked to restore clarity to musical scores with poorly preserved source materials 2 As of 2017 Abell is a resident of London 7 Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Early professional career 2 1 Collaborative work with Leonard Bernstein 3 Work since 1996 3 1 Opera 3 2 Musical theatre 3 3 Pops career 4 Music scholarship 5 Career highlights 6 Selected discography 7 References 8 External linksEarly life and education EditBorn in Jacksonville North Carolina Abell was raised in the Philadelphia and Chicago areas studying viola piano organ trumpet and voice As a member of the Berkshire Boy Choir he sang in the 1971 world premiere of Leonard Bernstein s Mass at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The experience sparked his interest in theatrical compositions and fuelled a lasting passion for dramatic music 2 In 1976 Abell enrolled at Yale University where his teachers included John Mauceri and Rob Kapilow He studied with Nadia Boulanger and Robert D Levin at the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau before returning to Yale to complete his B A in 1981 Early professional career EditIn 1982 Abell participated in the inaugural Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute summer school studying with Bernstein and Daniel Lewis He continued his postgraduate training from 1983 to 1985 at the Juilliard School under Jorge Mester and Sixten EhrlingAbell made his professional debut conducting Bernstein s Mass at Berlin s Deutschlandhalle in 1982 The following year he deputized at short notice for John Mauceri conducting Britten s The Turn of the Screw at Washington National Opera In 1985 he made his New York City Opera debut conducting The Mikado Abell led San Francisco Opera s 1989 national tour of Carmen and was conductor for City Opera s national tour of The Barber of Seville in 1994 Collaborative work with Leonard Bernstein Edit One of Leonard Bernstein s last proteges he assisted the composer conductor on many projects during the 1980s and helped prepare definitive editions of Bernstein s musical theatre scores 2 Work since 1996 EditSince moving to London in 1996 Abell has conducted orchestras in the UK and abroad including The Halle City of Birmingham Bournemouth London Philharmonic BBC Symphony Royal Philharmonic Orchestra BBC National Orchestra of Wales Seattle Symphony Hong Kong Philharmonic Iceland Symphony and West Australian Symphony orchestras He is a regular guest conductor with the BBC Concert Orchestra with whom he has appeared five times at the Proms 8 9 Opera Edit In recent years Abell has made debuts at Cincinnati Opera Porgy and Bess Lyric Opera of Kansas City Silent Night Opera Philadelphia Die Zauberflote and Hawaii Opera Theatre Eugene Onegin Musical theatre Edit The driving force behind Stephen Sondheim s 80th birthday celebration at the 2010 BBC Proms 8 Abell subsequently conducted the 25th anniversary concert of Les Miserables at the O2 Arena which has been seen worldwide on television and released on DVD Both the 25th and 10th Anniversary concerts have been extensively broadcast by PBS to boost fund raising efforts 10 Abell was Music Director of the West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber s Love Never Dies from its opening in March 2010 until March 2011 11 12 Between 2011 and 2014 he conducted the French premieres of four Sondheim musicals Follies at the Opera de Toulon Sweeney Todd 13 14 and Sunday in the Park with George 15 and Into the Woods 16 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris Abell conducted London s Laurence Olivier Awards ceremony from 2011 to 2014 He has appeared twice at English National Opera conducting Sweeney Todd with Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson in 2015 and Carousel with Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins in 2017 Pops career Edit A regular guest conductor with the Philly Pops since his debut in 2013 Abell released a Christmas CD with them in 2015 17 and was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the organization in 2017 18 He was named Music Director and Principal Conductor in February 2020 19 He made his Boston Pops debut in 2016 with an all Gershwin concert Music scholarship EditAbell has helped restore clarity to musical theatre scores affected by accretions of revival productions and poorly preserved source materials notably West Side Story 2 Along with pianist and musicologist Seann Alderking he edited a complete edition of Cole Porter s Kiss Me Kate published in 2014 20 It is one of the first American musicals to be published in a critical edition 8 Career highlights EditYear Organization Title Notes2018 Hawaii Opera Theatre Eugene Onegin dir Tomer ZvulunBBC Symphony Orchestra Bernstein Centenary Concert including Serenade Songfest2017 Opera Philadelphia Die Zauberflote dir Barrie KoskyEnglish National Opera Carousel with Alfie Boe Katherine Jenkins2016 Cincinnati Opera Die Fledermaus with Cincinnati Symphony OrchestraOpera Orlando One Voice Orlando Opera gala benefitting Pulse shooting charitiesBoston Pops Orchestra Gershwin Celebration Boston Pops debut2015 Opera North Kiss Me Kate based on 2014 Critical EditionLyric Opera of Kansas City Silent Night with Kansas City Symphony2014 London Philharmonic Orchestra Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No 2 Live accompaniment to film Brief EncounterBBC Proms War Horse Prom dir Melly StillTheatre du Chatelet Into the Woods French premiere2013 Menier Chocolate Factory Candide Musical SupervisionTheatre du Chatelet Sunday in the Park with George French premiereOpera de Toulon Follies French premiere2012 Leicester Curve Theatre Finding Neverland World PremiereCincinnati Opera Porgy and Bess dir Lemuel Wade2011 Kanagawa Arts Theatre ja Pacific Overtures dir Amon MiyamotoTheatre du Chatelet Sweeney Todd French premiere2010 O2 Arena Les Miserables 25th Anniversary ConcertBBC Proms Sondheim at 80 with Judi Dench Bryn TerfelAdelphi Theatre Love Never Dies World Premiere2009 Cape Town Opera Porgy and Bess UK Tour2008 Theatre du Chatelet On the Town dir Jude KellyGlimmerglass Opera Kiss Me Kate dir Diane Paulus2007 Tokyo International Forum Take Flight Asian PremiereFestival dei Due Mondi Maria Golovin dir Vincent BoussardThe New York Pops Gala concert Carnegie Hall debut2006 Young Vic Tobias and the Angel dir John FulljamesRoyal Albert Hall Show Boat dir Francesca Zambello2004 Wales Millennium Centre Grand Opening Concert dir Ken CaswellTokyo International Forum Candide dir Amon Miyamoto2003 Bregenz Festival West Side Story Floating Stage productionLuglio Musicale Trapanese it Manon Lescaut dir Mario Corradi2002 BBC Proms Richard Rodgers Centenary Concert dir Kenneth Richardson2000 Theater St Gallen The Three Musketeers World Premiere1999 Opera North The Thieving Magpie dir Martin Duncan1998 Royal Albert Hall Madama Butterfly dir David Freeman1997 Royal Albert Hall Carmen dir Frank Dunlop1996 Prince Edward Theatre Martin Guerre World Premiere1995 Royal Albert Hall Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert1991 Theatre Mogador Les Miserables dir Trevor Nunn amp John Caird1985 New York City Opera The Mikado dir Lotfi Mansouri1983 Washington Opera The Turn of the Screw U S conducting debut1982 Deutschlandhalle Mass Professional conducting debutSelected discography EditYear Title Label Notes2014 Something s Gotta Give CD Chandos Records Simon Keenlyside Scarlett Strallen BBC Concert Orchestra2013 Forever CD Warner Classics Erato Records Diana Damrau Royal Liverpool Philharmonic2010 Les Miserables DVD Universal Studios 25th Anniversary ConcertAlfie Boe Nick Jonas Ramin Karimloo Lea SalongaTobias and the Angel CD Chandos Records World Premiere RecordingJames Laing2005 Strauss Dance and Dream DVD Euroarts Concert and DocudramaWiener AkademieLesley Garrett2004 The Little Prince CD DVD Sony Music World Premiere RecordingJoseph McManners Teddy Tahu Rhodes Lesley Garrett Willard White Aled Jones BBC Concert Orchestra2002 Richard Rodgers An Enchanted Evening DVD Image Entertainment Drury Lane Centennial ConcertJudi Dench Lesley Garrett Kim Criswell2000 Man of La Mancha CD Jay Records First Complete RecordingBBC Concert OrchestraRon Raines Kim Criswell1996 Martin Guerre CD First Night Records World Premiere RecordingLes Miserables CD First Night RecordsDVD BBC Video 10th Anniversary ConcertRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraColm Wilkinson Philip Quast Michael Ball Alun Armstrong Ruthie HenshallLa boheme selections Madama Butterfly selections CD Tring Records Royal Philharmonic OrchestraClaire Rutter Paul Charles Clarke Stephen Gadd1994 Miss Saigon CD First Night Records Complete International Symphonic Cast RecordingJoanna Ampil Peter Cousens Kevin Gray Hinton Battle Ruthie Henshall1992 Les Miserables CD Disques Trema Paris Cast RecordingRobert Marien Louise Pitre Jerome Pradon Stephanie MartinReferences Edit Blog WDAV Classically Trained David Charles Abell WDAV Of Note Retrieved 2022 06 02 a b c d e Ford Piers Interview with David Charles Abell Conductor of the 2010 Sondheim Prom The Art of the Torch Singer January 6 2011 Retrieved on October 19 2011 E dwards A drian Schonberg Les Miserables Gramophone magazine August 1996 Retrieved on October 19 2011 Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert Cast amp Creatives David Charles Abell Archived from the original on 2010 09 07 Retrieved 2011 10 20 Nice David Stephen Sondheim At 80 Royal Albert Hall The Arts Desk August 1 2010 Retrieved on October 20 2011 Millington Barry Masters and servants at the Proms The Evening Standard August 2 2010 Retrieved on October 19 2011 Meet Conductor David Charles Abell Meet Conductor David Charles Abell Opera Philadelphia Retrieved 2022 06 02 a b c Conductor David Charles Abell Prepares For A Season of Sondheim Broadwayworld com June 11 2010 Retrieved on October 19 2011 Billington Michael The Water Diviner s Tale The Guardian August 28 2007 Retrieved on October 19 2011 Jensen Elizabeth In Tight Times PBS Leans on Pledge Drives The New York Times March 13 2010 Retrieved on October 20 2011 Benedict David Love Never Dies Variety March 10 2010 Retrieved on October 20 2011 Seckerson Edward Love Never Dies twice Archived 2012 06 14 at the Wayback Machine The Independent January 16 2011 Retrieved on October 20 2011 Loomis George Chatelet s Sweeney Todd Stays True to Detailed Musical Roots The New York Times May 3 2011 Retrieved on October 19 2011 David Charles Abell The Chatelet production of SWEENEY TODD is allowing me to fulfil a long held dream Todomusicales April 1 2011 Retrieved on October 19 2011 Benzel Jan Supersizing a Sunday in the Park The New York Times April 18 2013 Retrieved on April 30 2013 Gioia Michael and Ly Cuong Stephane The Screening Room Highlights from Theatre du Chatelet s Into the Woods in Paris Video Playbill April 15 2014 Retrieved on May 10 2014 Philly POPS Releases New Christmas Album The Philly Pops December 15 2015 Retrieved on February 23 2020 David Charles Abell named Principal Guest Conductor of the Philly POPS The Philly Pops September 21 2017 Retrieved on February 23 2020 David Charles Abell replaces Todd Ellison Philadelphia Inquirer February 12 2020 Retrieved on February 23 2020 Kiss Me Kate Critical Edition Now Available Tams Witmark Music Library Retrieved 2018 04 28 External links EditOfficial website North American Management Pinnacle Arts Management Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Charles Abell amp oldid 1138390671, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
